YouTube and Vumatel have announced a joint pilot program aimed at tackling digital inequality in South African township homes by enabling affordable, high-speed fibre connectivity bundled with Smart TV streaming.
The initiative, launching in previously Alexandra will see 2, fibre-connected households equipped with free Google TV streaming dongles, turning standard televisions into smart, connected entertainment hubs.
The primary goal of the pilot is to advance digital inclusion by increasing access to high-speed, reliable fibre internet in areas that have historically been excluded from the digital economy.
By pairing Vuma’s affordable fibre infrastructure with YouTube’s content ecosystem and Google TV technology, the collaboration aims to empower families to learn, connect, and entertain from the comfort of their homes, bridging the gap between connectivity and meaningful online participation.
Mahesh Bhalareo, director of YouTube product partnerships: EMEA, comments on the technological approach: “Enabling an easy-to-use, accessible Connected TV experience is key to driving digital literacy and content adoption. By bundling Google TV dongles with Vuma’s reliable and fast fibre, we are creating a seamless pathway for customers to enjoy the full range of our content, from education to entertainment, in a way that is affordable and sustainable for their households.”
Zunaid Mahomed, chief strategy and growth officer at Maziv, adds: “Our fibre-to-the-home model fundamentally disrupted the market by breaking the financial barriers to connectivity for households across South Africa.
“The collaboration with YouTube and Google TV is a powerful extension of that mission, transforming access into empowerment. It completes the circle by enabling people not only to get connected, but to experience the full value of being connected: learning, earning, and engaging through technology.”
Tony Archibong, MD: global product partnerships at YouTube, says: “ This pilot is an important step in upholding the platform’s mission to give everyone a voice and show them the world by ensuring that high-quality, relevant content, from educational resources to entertainment, is accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status or geographic location.”